Blog posts by Gordon Hector

Scotland vs England (in poverty stats) – you can't tackle poverty with high housing costs

by Gordon Hector 20 February 2013

It's 6 Nations season, so I am naturally thinking a lot about England Vs Scotland. And leafing through our recent report looking at poverty trends in Scotland, one thing stands out compared with the situation south of the border: housing.

Why are local authorities so nervous about their funding?

by Gordon Hector 20 December 2012

The funding settlement for local authorities for next year was announced yesterday, and it’s lead to outcry from councils. Why?

Why is the Winter Fuel Allowance a big issue? Because of its name

by Gordon Hector 19 December 2012

The Winter Fuel Allowance provokes emotional responses, preventing proper debate about universal benefits.

Measuring child poverty: consultation dodges some difficult questions

by Gordon Hector 15 November 2012

The Government launched its consultation on measuring child poverty today. What should we make of it?

Heseltine report on economic growth: localism is a good place to start

by Gordon Hector 31 October 2012

Hezza’s back – but does his report stack up?

SNP conference: when welfare reform fuels nationalism

by Gordon Hector 29 October 2012

One week on from the SNP conference in Perth, I’m increasingly convinced that it will be impossible to separate the arguments about welfare reform from those around Scottish independence. This is largely because of the particular nature of the SNP’s nationalism.

The travelling circus: three thoughts on the 2012 party conference season

by Gordon Hector 12 October 2012

What do the party conferences tell us about UK politics? I’ve spent the best part of three weeks in Brighton, Birmingham and Manchester, and have three observations on politics following this year’s conference season.

UK floods: the poorer you are, the greater the risk?

by Gordon Hector 28 September 2012

If you want to understand who is most at risk from flooding, there’s no better place to start than JRF’s programme looking at climate change and social justice.

#ldconf – tough times, fairer taxes?

by Gordon Hector 26 September 2012

I’m just back from wet, windy Brighton, and the Lib Dem conference. ‘Fairer Tax in Tough Times’ was the motto of the conference – so here’s my take on three policies for tough times that made the news:

Fisking Frank Field – what’s the problem with Universal Credit?

by Gordon Hector 13 September 2012

Universal Credit’s been in the news this week. The thing that caught my eye was Frank Field’s broadside again in the Guardian, just before Labour’s Opposition Day debate. It’s worth noting what he says, as he’s previously supported many Coalition reforms. But is he right?

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Author

Gordon Hector

Gordon joined the JRF in 2011 as Public Affairs Manager. Before this, he was a Consultant at Fishburn Hedges, a London-based communications agency. He advised clients in a range of sectors on their corporate communications, with a particular focus on political affairs, and digital and social media.